"Eigenvector" wrote in message
. ..

"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message
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"Jack" Windswept@home wrote in message
Is the tire more susceptible to UV rays and dry rot lying flat in the
bed?

If so, should it be covered? I see spare tires mounted on the backs
of jeeps, etc. are covered with ? canvas ? vinyl ? and was wondering
if they are protective. Thanks.

In the bed it can get the direct sun and that can damage it quickly
compared to hanging under the car. . Covers can go a long way to
protect it. How often do you have to use it? Last two tires that went
flat on me, I was able to add some air and drive the car to get it fixed.
I don't recall driving on a spare for over 20 years now. Not like years
ago as a teenager and we bought either used tires or re-caps. I don't
miss those "good old" days. Aside from trucks, can you even buy a
re-cap?
--
Ed
http://pages.cthome.net/edhome/


Yes you can buy retreads, we got them for the farm vehicles all the time.

The tire won't get trashed being in the bed. My '83 Ranger had the spare
in the bed by the driver's seat and it had been there for 10 years - no
problems. It was a SPARE tire, so it wasn't like I took it off-roading.

As for run-flats - I sure don't depend on that stuff, not to mention it
can detonate on you when you go to remove the tire (or so I've been told,
I've never actually seen this). I'm sure glad I didn't have run-flat or
canned air for my truck when the rear tire got shot out at a High Power
competition from a riccochet - last time I park my truck in THAT spot.

Don't know about exploding but the can label does say the contents is
flammable. 2+2=?

Also, the biggest reason not to use the fix-a-flat junk is that the tire can
never be plugged or remounted. That stuff coats the tire and nothing sticks
to it. So a tire that might have been repaired with a plug or patch is now
worthless. The stuff makes a real mess on the tire machine as well, that
doesn't make for a happy mechanic.......